Regin looked at his guardian desperately.
“No doubt he wanted to ruin her notes,” Garrel said. “Just a silly prank.”
“I don’t believe so,” Galin interrupted. “Or he would simply have poured the contents all over her papers and left the inkwell on Lord Jullen’s desk.”
Garrel’s expression darkened, but Galin’s accusing stare remained steady. Lord Jullen looked from one magician to the other, then up at the shelves.
“Lord Dorrien,” he called.
Dorrien stepped into the aisle. “Yes?”
“Please find Sonea and bring her here.”
Dorrien nodded and strode down the rows of shelving. Rothen watched Sonea’s face as she came in sight of the magicians. At once her expresssion became wary. As Jullen explained what had happened her eyes widened, and she gave Regin a glare.
“I’m afraid your notes are ruined, Sonea,” Jullen said, tilting the box toward her. She looked inside and grimaced. “If you’d like, I’ll lock your box in my cupboard from now on.”
She looked up at him, surprised. “Thank you, Lord Jullen,” she said in a quiet voice.
He closed the box and placed it in the cupboard behind his desk. Galin looked at Regin. “You may return to your study, Sonea. Regin and I are going to have a chat with the University Director.”
She glanced at Regin once more, then turned away and walked back to the shelves. Dorrien hesitated, then followed.
Galin eyed Garrel. “Are you coming?”
The Warrior nodded.
As the two magicians and the novice left the library, Dorrien and Sonea approached Rothen. They both wore a look of unconcealed smugness. Shaking his head, Rothen gave them both a stern look.
“That was risky. What if no one had seen?”
Dorrien smiled. “Ah, but I made sure someone did.” He looked down at Sonea. “You managed to look convincingly surprised.”
She smiled slyly. “I was just surprised it worked.”
“Hmph!” Dorrien said. “Has nobody got any confidence in me?” He sobered and looked at Rothen. “Did you notice who took Jullen away from his desk and distracted everyone while Regin was doing his evil deed?”
Rothen thought back. “Garrel? No. Don’t be ridiculous. Regin was taking advantage of the situation. Just because Garrel was the one who asked for help and coughed at the same moment Regin made his move doesn’t mean he’s involving himself in childish pranks.”
“You’re probably right,” Dorrien said. “But I would keep an eye on him if I were you.”
19
The Tests Begin
The sky was just warming with the glow of dawn when Sonea left the Baths. The air was still cold, however, so she created a barrier about herself and heated the air within it. As she paused to straighten her robes, a green- robed figure stepped from the section of the Baths reserved for males.
Recognizing Dorrien, she felt her mood lighten. Since he’d planned to leave early this morning, they’d said their farewells last night over dinner in Rothen’s rooms. But now she had one more opportunity to speak to him before he left.
“I should have guessed you were an early riser,” she said.
Turning, he blinked in surprise. “Sonea! What are you doing up at dawn?”
“I always start early. I can get a few things done without anyone bothering me.”
He smiled crookedly. “A wise move, though maybe that won’t be nessessary now. Regin has been leaving you alone, hasn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Tilting his head slightly, he gave her an odd look. “I was going to visit an old haunt of mine before I go. Want to come?”
“Where is it?”
“In the forest.”
She glanced up at the trees. “Another one of your secret places?”
Dorrien smiled. “Yes, but this time it really is a secret.”
“Oh? But if you show me, then it won’t be a secret.”
He chuckled. “I suppose not. It’s just a place I used to visit when I was a boy. I hid there whenever I was in trouble.”
“Then I’m sure you hid there a lot.”
“Of course.” He grinned. “So, are you coming?”
She looked down at her box. Her next stop was to be the Foodhall. “It won’t take long?”
He shook his head. “I’ll have you back in time for the tests.”
“Very well,” she said.
He started along the path that led up into the forest. Walking beside him, she thought back to the last time she had taken this route. It had been a cold night almost a year before, when she was still a “prisoner” of the Guild. Rothen had decided she needed fresh air and some exercise. Not far into the forest there was an ancient cemetery, and Rothen had explained what happened to magicians when they died.
She shivered as she remembered. When a magician’s life ended, his mind relinquished Control over his power. The remaining magic left in the body consumed it, turning flesh and bone to ash and dust. Since there was nothing to bury, magicians were never interred, so the existence of the ancient cemetery was a mystery.
Dorrien’s strides were long, and she had to walk quickly to keep up. Thinking back to the conversation of the previous evening, she remembered how eager he was to return to his home, but she couldn’t help wishing he could stay a little longer. She couldn’t remember enjoying herself as much as she had in the last few weeks. Though Rothen was good company, Dorrien was energetic and was always looking for opportunities for fun. He had taught her to levitate, and to play several games. All these games involved magic, and he was obviously relishing having a partner to play them with.
“What’s it like being the only magician among ordinary people?” she asked.
Dorrien considered the question. “It’s satisfying and challenging. People don’t ever forget that you’re different, no matter how close you get to them. They feel uncomfortable because you can do something they don’t understand. Some of the farmers won’t let me touch them, even though they’re happy to let me Heal their animals.”
She nodded. “People in the slums are like that. They’re terrified of magicians.”
“Most of the farmers were afraid of me at first. It took quite a while before they trusted me.”
“Do you get lonely?”
“Sometimes. It’s worth it, though.” They had reached the road now, and Dorrien turned to the left. “There’s something right about what I do. There are people in those mountains who would have died if I hadn’t been around to help.”
“That must be wonderful, knowing you saved someone’s life.”
Dorrien smiled. “It’s the best use magic can be put to. In comparison, the rest is just frivolous games. Father wouldn’t agree, but I’ve always thought Alchemy a waste of power, and Warrior Skills... well, what can I say?”
“The Alchemists say that they have created and invented ways to make people’s lives safer and more comfortable,” Sonea pointed out. “The Warriors say they are essential to the defense of Kyralia.”
He nodded. “The Alchemists have done some good work, and it isn’t wise to let magicians forget how to defend themselves. I guess I have a grudge against those who spend their time indulging themselves when they could be helping others. The ones who waste all their time on glorified hobbies.”
